Method and system for enabling component monitoring redundancy in a digital network of intelligent sensing devices

ABSTRACT

Techniques for employing a smart sensor device ( 102 ) that has a primary sensing function for sensing a state of a physical component and can concurrently enable one or more backup functions for sensing one or more states of one or more other physicals components in response to one or more other smart sensor devices ( 102  and/or  116 ) not being able to perform their primary function of sensing and/or reporting on the one or more states of the one or more other physical components.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The subject disclosure relates generally to employing a network ofintelligent sensing devices, respectively having primary and backfunctions, to monitor physical components on an aircraft.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Aircrafts have many physical components, many of them critical, whichneed to be monitored in flight and/or on the ground for faultconditions. For example, a single gearbox can have forty or more sensorsmonitoring gears and bearings in the gearbox. Conventionally, each ofthese sensors would be an analog sensor with a pair of wires leading toan input module of a controller/monitoring device. Given the hundreds ormore sensors in an aircraft, the weight of the sensors and associatedwiring can be significant, thus adding to the amount of fuel consumed inflight. In addition, the installation and maintenance costs associatedwith the analog wiring to the sensors can be significant.

Additionally, in order to increase safety, many of the physicalcomponents are monitored using dedicated redundant sensors for eachphysical component. For example, a critical physical component can havetwo or more sensors that are dedicated to monitoring the criticalphysical component. This redundancy of sensors and associated wiringfurther increases the aircraft weight, and associated costs of fuel,installation, and maintenance.

For example, as described in Chen, U.S. Pat. No. 9,233,763: “Inaddition, each of the various sub-systems can each include one or moresensors to facilitate measurement and generation of data pertaining tooperation of that sub-system of the aircraft 100 (and/or a component ofthat sub-system), to assist in performing diagnostics and healthmonitoring of one or more sub-systems, etc. For critical sub-subsystems,it is common to have redundant sensors (e.g., triple redundant orquad-redundant) in the event of sensor failure. Each sensor can generatedata that is used to provide information to the pilot during flight andto be used by aircraft maintenance personnel prior to or after flight”,and “Redundant smart sensors 504-1-504-4 (e.g., quad-redundant as shown)each input a respective measured sensor signal 506-1-506-4 into areference signal generator 508. Reference signal generator 508 discards(or ignores) the highest sensor value and the lowest sensor value andaverages the remaining two sensor signals to provide the referencesignal. This technique is used for quad-redundant (and higherredundancy) configurations. For triple-redundant sensors, the highestsensor value and the lowest sensor value are discarded (or ignored) andthe remaining sensor signal becomes the reference value.” However, thepublication of Chen employs redundant sensors of the same type that areeach respectively dedicated to monitoring the same component/subsystem.

The above-described deficiencies of aircraft sensor systems are merelyintended to provide an overview of some of the problems of currenttechnology, and are not intended to be exhaustive. Other problems withthe state of the art, and corresponding benefits of some of the variousnon-limiting embodiments described herein, may become further apparentupon review of the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a summary to provide a basic understanding of oneor more examples of the invention. This summary is not intended toidentify key or critical elements, or delineate any scope of theparticular examples or any scope of the claims. Its sole purpose is topresent concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detaileddescription that is presented later. In one or more examples describedherein, systems, computer-implemented methods, apparatus and/or computerprogram products that facilitate employing a smart sensor device (e.g.,intelligent sensing device) that has a primary function (e.g. code,logic, program, configuration, algorithm, circuitry, etc.) for sensing astate of a physical component and can concurrently enable one or morebackup functions for sensing one or more states of one or more otherphysical components in response to one or more other smart sensordevices not being able to perform their primary function of sensingand/or reporting on the one or more states of the one or more otherphysical components are described.

According to one aspect, a smart sensor device is provided. The smartsensor device can comprise a sensing element. The smart sensor devicecan also comprise a memory that stores computer executable components.The smart sensor device can further comprise a processor that executesthe computer executable components stored in the memory. The computerexecutable components can comprise a monitoring component configured to:generate first sensed information associated with a first aircraftphysical component based on execution of a primary sensing function andone or more signals from the sensing element; monitor communication froma second smart sensor device performing sensing associated with a secondaircraft physical component; and in response to a first determinationthat the second smart sensor device is not operating properly based onthe communication: execute a backup sensing function in conjunction withthe primary sensing function, generate the first sensed informationassociated with the first aircraft physical component using the primarysensing function and one or more other signals from the sensing element,and generate second sensed information associated with the secondaircraft physical component using the backup sensing function and theone or more additional signals from the sensing element.

According to another aspect, a method can comprise generating, by afirst smart sensor device, first sensed information associated with afirst aircraft physical component based on execution of a primarysensing function; monitoring, by the first smart sensor device,communication from a second smart sensor device performing sensingassociated with a second aircraft physical component; and in response todetermining, by the first smart sensor device, that the second smartsensor device is not operating properly based on the communication:executing a backup sensing function in conjunction with the primarysensing function, generating the first sensed information associatedwith the first aircraft physical component using the primary sensingfunction, and generating the second sensed information associated withthe second aircraft physical component using the backup sensingfunction.

According to yet another aspect, a system is provided. The system cancomprise a first smart sensor device communicatively coupled to a secondsmart sensor device; wherein the first smart sensor device comprises afirst function for monitoring a first aircraft physical component and asecond function for monitoring a second aircraft physical component, andthe first smart sensor device monitors the first aircraft physicalcomponent using the first function; wherein the second smart sensordevice comprises the second function for monitoring the second aircraftphysical component, and the second smart sensor device monitors thesecond aircraft physical component using the second function; andwherein the first smart sensor device, in response to a firstdetermination that the second smart sensor device is no longermonitoring the second aircraft physical component, monitors the firstaircraft physical component using the first function and monitors thesecond aircraft physical component using the second function.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the disclosedsubject matter, then, comprises one or more of the features hereinaftermore fully described. The following description and the annexed drawingsset forth in detail certain illustrative aspects of the subject matter.However, these aspects are indicative of but a few of the various waysin which the principles of the subject matter can be employed. Otheraspects, advantages, and novel features of the disclosed subject matterwill become apparent from the following detailed description whenconsidered in conjunction with the drawings. It will also be appreciatedthat the detailed description may include additional or alternativeaspects beyond those described in this summary.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an example, non-system thatfacilitates networked smart sensor devices monitoring physicalcomponents of an aircraft in accordance with one or more embodimentsdescribed herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an example, non-limitingmonitoring component that facilitates networked smart sensor devicesmonitoring physical components of an aircraft in accordance with one ormore embodiments described herein.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a non-limiting example ofnetworked smart sensor devices monitoring physical components of anaircraft in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of a non-limiting example ofnetworked smart sensor devices monitoring physical components of anaircraft in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of a non-limiting example ofnetworked smart sensor devices monitoring physical components of anaircraft in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of a non-limiting example ofnetworked smart sensor devices monitoring physical components of anaircraft in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow diagram of an example, non-limitingcomputer-implemented method that facilitates primary and backup sensingfunctions of smart sensor devices of an aircraft in accordance with oneor more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow diagram of an example, non-limitingcomputer-implemented method that facilitates primary and backup sensingfunctions of smart sensor devices of an aircraft in accordance with oneor more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 9 illustrates a block diagram of an example, non-limiting operatingenvironment in which one or more embodiments described herein can befacilitated.

FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of an example, non-limiting computerenvironment in which one or more embodiments described herein can befacilitated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is merely illustrative and is notintended to limit embodiments and/or application or uses of embodiments.Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed orimplied information presented in the preceding Background or Summarysections, or in the Detailed Description section.

One or more embodiments are now described with reference to thedrawings, wherein like referenced numerals are used to refer to likeelements throughout. In the following description, for purposes ofexplanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to providea more thorough understanding of the one or more embodiments. It isevident, however, in various cases, that the one or more embodiments canbe practiced without these specific details. In other instances,well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form inorder to facilitate describing the subject disclosure.

In order to overcome one or more disadvantages as described in thebackground, one or more embodiments disclosed herein can employ a smartsensor device that has a primary function for sensing a state of aphysical component and can concurrently enable one or more backupfunctions for sensing one or more states of one or more other physicalcomponents in response to one or more other smart sensor devices notbeing able to perform their primary function of sensing and/or reportingon the one or more states of the one or more other physical components.

For example, a first smart sensor device can have a primary function forsensing a state of a first physical component, and a second smart sensordevice can have a primary function for sensing a state of a secondphysical component. The first smart sensor device can have a backupfunction for sensing a state of the second physical component, and thesecond smart sensor device can have a backup function for sensing astate of the first physical component. The first smart sensor device andthe second smart sensor device can communicate with each other on anetwork. In a non-limiting example, first smart sensor device and thesecond smart sensor device can send respective status (e.g. heartbeat)messages to each indicating their respective health states, or they cansend sensed information for their respective physical components to eachother or to another device on the network. In response to either smartsensor device determining an indication of a fault condition with theother smart sensor device, the smart sensor device can enable theirbackup function along with their primary function. For example, if firstsmart sensor device receives an indication from second smart sensordevice that the second smart sensor device is not operating properly orif first smart sensor device determines that the second smart sensordevice is no longer communicating (e.g. not transmitting for a thresholdamount of time), first smart sensor device can add its backup functionfor processing along with its primary function. In this manner, firstsmart sensor device can sense states of the first physical component andthe second physical component. In the above example, the pair of smartsensor devices act as backup for each other while also performing theirprimary sensing functions. In other embodiments, three or more smartsensor devices can as backups for each other while also performing theirprimary sensing functions.

The computer processing systems, computer-implemented methods, apparatusand/or computer program products employ hardware and/or software tosolve problems that are highly technical in nature (e.g., related tosmart sensor device that has a primary function for sensing a state of aphysical component and can concurrently enable one or more backupfunctions for sensing one or more states of one or more other physicalcomponents in response to one or more other smart sensor devices notbeing able to perform their primary function of sensing and/or reportingon the one or more states of the one or more other physical components,etc.), that are not abstract and that cannot be performed as a set ofmental acts by a human. One or more embodiments of the subject computerprocessing systems, methods, apparatuses and/or computer programproducts enable smart sensor devices to employ artificial intelligenceto coordinate amongst themselves, and optionally with other devices, toperform actions to implement their primary sensing functions and enabletheir backup sensing functions in response to a fault condition of oneor more the smart sensor devices.

The networked smart sensor devices having primary and backup sensingfunctions can allow for a reduction in the number of sensing devices andassociated wiring in an aircraft, thus reducing the weight of theaircraft and reducing associated costs of fuel, installation, andmaintenance.

While examples herein refer to aircraft for illustrative purposes, it isto be appreciated that the novel concepts disclosed herein can beemployed for any type of vehicle or machine that has a significantamount of sensing devices, non-limiting examples of which can include aspace vehicle, a satellite, a watercraft, a submarine, a drilling orboring machine, or any other suitable vehicle or machine.

In general, sensors (e.g. smart sensor devices) can be used to senselight, motion, temperature, magnetic fields, gravitational forces,humidity, vibration, pressure, electrical fields, current, voltage,sound, and other suitable physical aspects of an environment through oneor more sensing elements. Non-limiting examples of sensors can includeacoustic sensors, vibration sensors, air data sensors (e.g., air speed,altimeter, angle of attack sensor,), inertial sensors (e.g., gyroscope,accelerometer, inertial reference sensor), magnetic compass, navigationinstrument sensor, electric current sensors, electric potential sensors,magnetic sensors, radio frequency sensors, fluid flow sensors, position,angle, displacement, distance, speed, (e.g., inclinometer, positionsensor, rotary encoder, rotary/linear variable differential transducers,tachometer, etc.), optical, light, imaging sensors (e.g., charge-coupleddevice, infra-red sensor, LED, fiber optic sensors, photodiode,phototransistors, photoelectric sensor, etc.), pressure sensors andgauges, strain gauges, torque sensors, force sensors piezoelectricsensors, density sensors, level sensors, thermal, heat, temperaturesensors (e.g., heat flux sensor, thermometer, resistance-basedtemperature detector, thermistor, thermocouple, etc.),proximity/presence sensors, or any other suitable type of sensor.

Physical components can comprise any hardware component of a vehicle ormachine, non-limiting examples of which can include, gears, bearings,motors, pumps, valves, pipes, wires, flaps, tanks, wheels, blades, fans,joints, or any other suitable hardware component of a vehicle ormachine.

It is to be appreciated that smart sensor devices as described inexamples herein can be located within a suitable proximity to a physicalcomponent to perform a primary sensing function of the physicalcomponent, and can also be located within a suitable proximity toanother physical component to perform a backup sensing function of theother physical component.

Aircraft can include any suitable type of aircraft, non-limitingexamples of which include airplanes, helicopters, blimps, commercialaircraft, non-commercial aircraft, military aircraft, governmentaircraft, space aircraft, and/or any other suitable type of aircraft.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an example, non-limiting system100, that can be implemented in an aircraft, that facilitates automatedemployment of a smart sensor device that has a primary function forsensing a state of a physical component and can concurrently enable oneor more backup functions for sensing one or more states of one or moreother physical components in response to one or more other smart sensordevices not being able to perform their primary function of sensingand/or reporting on the one or more states of the one or more otherphysical components in accordance with one or more embodiments describedherein. Repetitive description of like elements employed in otherembodiments described herein is omitted for sake of brevity. Aspects ofsystems (e.g., system 100 and the like), apparatuses or processesexplained in this disclosure can constitute machine-executablecomponent(s) embodied within machine(s), e.g., embodied in one or morecomputer readable mediums (or media) associated with one or moremachines. Such component(s), when executed by the one or more machines,e.g., one or more computers, one or more computing devices, one or morevirtual machines, etc., can cause the one or more machines to performthe operations described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the system 100 can include one or more smart sensordevices 102, one or more smart sensor devices 116, one or more networks114, and one or more server devices 118.

Smart sensor device 102 can include or otherwise be associated with atleast one memory 1110 that can store computer executable components(e.g., computer executable components can include, but are not limitedto, the monitoring component 104, and associated components). Smartsensor device 102 can also include or otherwise be associated with atleast one processor 108 that executes the computer executable componentsstored in the memory 110. Smart sensor device 102 can also include oneor more sensing elements 106 for sensing a physical aspect(s) of anenvironment around smart sensor device 102. Smart sensor device 102 canfurther include a system bus 112 that can couple the various componentsincluding, but not limited to, monitoring component 104, sensing element106, processor 108, memory 110, and/or other components.

Smart sensor device 116 can be a sensor device similar to smart sensordevice 102 with the ability to sense more, less, or different physicalaspect(s) of an environment than smart sensor device 102. In anon-limiting example, smart sensor device 102 can sense vibration, whilesmart sensor device 116 senses acoustics. In another non-limitingexample, smart sensor device 102 can sense vibration and acoustics,while smart sensor device 116 senses optical aspects of the environment.In a further non-limiting example, smart sensor device 102 can sensevibration and acoustics, while smart sensor device 116 senses vibrationand temperature. It is to be appreciated that any combination of sensingcapabilities can be implemented in smart sensor device 102 and/or smartsensor device 116. All such embodiments are envisaged. Smart sensordevice 116 can also include monitoring component 104.

Server device 118 can be any computing device that can becommunicatively coupled to smart sensor device 102 and/or smart sensordevice 116, non-limiting example of which can include a server computer,a computer, a mobile computer, a control system, an air traffic controlsystem, a collision avoidance system, a ground control system, a weathercomputer, an emergency system, a communication system, a warning system,a radar system, a traffic system, a data analysis system, acommunication device, and/or any other suitable computing device. It isto be appreciated that smart sensor device 102, smart sensor device 116,and server device 118 can be equipped with communication hardware and/orsoftware that enable communication amongst smart sensor device 102,smart sensor device 116, and server device 118.

The various components (e.g., monitoring component 104, processor 108,memory 110, smart sensor device 102, smart sensor device 116, serverdevice(s) 118, and/or other components) of system 100 can be connectedeither directly or via one or more networks 114. Such networks 114 caninclude wired and wireless networks, including, but not limited to, acellular network, a wide area network (WAN) (e.g., the Internet), and/ora local area network (LAN). Wireless networks can include any suitablewireless communication medium, non-limiting examples of which include,electromagnetic (EM), cellular, WAN, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), Wi-Max,WLAN, Li-Fi, radio communication, microwave communication, satellitecommunication, optical communication, sonic communication,electromagnetic induction communication, and/or any other suitablewireless communication technology. It is to be appreciated that inestablishing a data connection and or communication channel, anysuitable communication protocol and/or authentication mechanism can beemployed in embodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an example, monitoring component104 that a primary function for sensing a state of a physical componentand can concurrently enable one or more backup functions for sensing oneor more states of one or more other physical components in response toone or more other smart sensor devices not being able to perform theirprimary function of sensing and/or reporting on the one or more statesof the one or more other physical components in accordance with one ormore embodiments described herein. Repetitive description of likeelements employed in other embodiments described herein is omitted forsake of brevity.

In some embodiments, monitoring component 104 can include communicationcomponent 202 that can receive data from or transmit data to anothersmart sensor device 102, smart sensor device 116, and/or server device118. In a non-limiting example, communication component 202 can transmitsensed information generated by state detection component 206 to anothersmart sensor device 102, smart sensor device 116, and/or server device118. In another example, communication component 202 can receive sensedinformation from another smart sensor device 102 or smart sensor device116. In a further example, communication component 202 can receivecontrol instructions (e.g. commands or requests) from another smartsensor device 102, smart sensor device 116, and/or server device 118. Itis to be appreciated that communication component 202 that can receiveany suitable type of data from or transmit any suitable type of data toanother smart sensor device 102, smart sensor device 116, and/or serverdevice 118. It is to be appreciated that communication component 202 cansend sensed information periodically or on-demand to another smartsensor device 102, smart sensor device 116, and/or server device 118.

Monitoring component 104 can also include sensed data acquisitioncomponent 204 that can obtain continuously, periodically, or on-demandsignals and/or data from sensing element 106. In a non-limiting example,sensed data acquisition component 204 can continuously gather signalsand/or data from sensing element 106. In another non-limiting example,sensed data acquisition component 204 can gather signals and/or datafrom sensing element 106 at regular or irregular intervals. In a furthernon-limiting example, sensed data acquisition component 204 can gathersignals and/or data from sensing element 106 in response to receipt of acontrol instruction such as from communication component 202 or statedetection component 206.

Monitoring component 104 can include state detection component 206 thatcan determine sensed information based on signals and/or data gatheredby sensed data acquisition component 204 that can indicate a state of aphysical component being monitored by smart sensor device 102.Furthermore, state detection component 206 can determine sensedinformation based upon one or more self-check components (not shown)that indicate a health state (e.g. operating properly or a faultcondition) of smart sensor device 102. For example, the health state canindicate whether smart sensor device 102 can reliably perform primaryand/or backup sensing functions, or associated reporting of sensedinformation to another smart sensor device 102, smart sensor device 116,and/or server device 118.

State detection component 206 can also include a primary sensingfunction for generating sensed information associated with a primaryphysical component that smart sensor device 102 is primarily responsiblefor monitoring. State detection component 206 can also include one ormore backup sensing functions for generating sensed informationassociated with one or more other physical components that smart sensordevice 102 has a backup responsibility for monitoring.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of an example, non-limiting aircraft302 with network smart sensor devices (e.g. smart sensor device 102and/or smart sensor device 116) monitoring components of aircraft 302.Aircraft can comprise one or more networks 114 that communicativelycouple one or more server devices 118 and smart sensor devices 304, 306,312, 314, 320, and 322. It is to be appreciated that respective smartsensor devices 304, 306, 312, 314, 320, and 322 can be a smart sensordevice 102 or a smart sensor device 116. Smart sensor devices 304, 306,312, 314, 320, and 322 can operate in pairs to provide primary andbackup sensing of physical components 308, 310, 316, 318, 324, and 326.For example, smart sensor device 304 can be a primary sensor forphysical component 308 and a backup sensor for physical component 310,while smart sensor device 306 can be a primary sensor for physicalcomponent 310 and a backup sensor for physical component 308. Similarly,smart sensor device 312 can be a primary sensor for physical component316 and a backup sensor for physical component 318, while smart sensordevice 314 can be a primary sensor for physical component 318 and abackup sensor for physical component 316. Similarly, smart sensor device320 can be a primary sensor for physical component 324 and a backupsensor for physical component 326, while smart sensor device 322 can bea primary sensor for physical component 326 and a backup sensor forphysical component 324. It is to be appreciated that aircraft 302 moreor less quantities of pairs of smart sensor devices providing primaryand backup sensing of more or less physical components of aircraft 302.While FIG. 3 depicts pairs of smart sensor devices performing as backupfor each other, it is to be appreciated that aircraft 302 can includeone or more sets respectively comprising three or more smart sensordevices that can as backups for each other while also performing theirprimary sensing functions on physical components of aircraft 302.

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of an example, non-limiting system400 of network smart sensor devices monitoring components of anaircraft. System 400 can comprise one or more networks 114 thatcommunicatively couple one or more server devices 118 and smart sensordevices 402 and 404. It is to be appreciated that respective smartsensor devices 402 and 404 can be a smart sensor device 102 or a smartsensor device 116. For illustrative purposes only, in this non-limitingexample smart sensor devices 402 and 404 are both smart sensor devices102. Smart sensor device 402 can be a primary sensor for physicalcomponent 406 and a backup sensor for physical component 408.Accordingly, smart sensor device 402 can include a primary sensingfunction 402A for determining sensing information associated withphysical component 406, and a backup sensing function 402B fordetermining sensing information associated with physical component 408.Smart sensor device 404 can include a primary sensing function 404A fordetermining sensing information associated with physical component 408,and a backup sensing function 404B for determining sensing informationassociated with physical component 406.

In an embodiment, primary sensing function 402A can be the same asbackup sensing function 404B, and/or primary sensing function 404A canbe the same as backup sensing function 402B. In another embodiment,primary sensing function 402A can be different than backup sensingfunction 404B, and/or primary sensing function 404A can be differentthan backup sensing function 402B. For example, primary sensing function402A can be customized to account for characteristics of smart sensordevice 402, while backup sensing function 404B can be customized toaccount for characteristics of smart sensor device 404. Non-limitingexamples of characteristics of smart sensor device can include, model,sensing element type, sensing capabilities, location, position, sensingreliability, sensing accuracy, maintenance history, or any othersuitable characteristics of a smart sensor device. For example, primarysensing function 402A can be customized based on the location of smartsensor device 402 relative to physical component 406, and backup sensingfunction 404B can be customized based on the location of smart sensordevice 404 relative to physical component 406. For example, therespective sensing functions can adjust sensed information based on adistance of the sensing element from the physical component. In anotherexample, the respective sensing functions can adjust sensed informationbased on a direction the sensing element is facing relative to thephysical component. It is to be appreciated that a sensing function canadjust sensed information based upon any suitable characteristic of anassociated smart sensor device.

Smart sensor device 402 can generate sensed information related tophysical component 406 using primary sensing function 402A and/orrelated to the health state of smart sensor device 402, and smart sensordevice 404 can generate sensed information related to physical component408 using primary sensing function 404A and/or related to the healthstate of smart sensor device 404. Smart sensor device 402 can alsomonitor communications from smart sensor device 404 to determine ifsmart sensor device 404 can reliably provide sensed information, andsmart sensor device 404 can also monitor communications from smartsensor device 402 to determine if smart sensor device 402 can reliablyprovide sensed information.

If smart sensor device 402 determines that smart sensor device 404 is nolonger communicating or that smart sensor device 404 has communicatedsensed information indicating that smart sensor device 404 is not ableto operate reliably, then smart sensor device 402 enable backup sensingfunction 402B to generate sensed information related to physicalcomponent 408 in addition to the already enabled primary sensingfunction 402A generating sensed information related to physicalcomponent 406 and communicate the respective sensed information, forexample to server device 118.

If smart sensor device 404 determines that smart sensor device 402 is nolonger communicating or that smart sensor device 402 has communicatedsensed information indicating that smart sensor device 402 is not ableto operate reliably, then smart sensor device 404 enable backup sensingfunction 404B to generate sensed information related to physicalcomponent 406 in addition to the already enabled primary sensingfunction 404A generating sensed information related to physicalcomponent 408 and communicate the respective sensed information, forexample to server device 118.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of an example, non-limiting system500 of network smart sensor devices monitoring components of anaircraft. System 500 can comprise one or more networks 114 thatcommunicatively couple one or more server devices 118 and smart sensordevices 502 and 504. It is to be appreciated that respective smartsensor devices 502 and 504 can be a smart sensor device 102 or a smartsensor device 116. For illustrative purposes only, in this non-limitingexample smart sensor device 502 can be similar to smart sensor device102, and smart sensor device 504 can be similar to smart sensor device116. As discussed above, smart sensor device 116 has more, less, ordifferent sensing capabilities than smart sensor device 102. Forexample, smart sensor device 502 can be a vibration sensor device, whilesmart sensor device 504 can be an acoustic sensor device. Smart sensordevice 502 can be a primary sensor for physical component 506 and abackup sensor for physical component 508. Accordingly, smart sensordevice 502 can include a primary sensing function 502A for determiningsensing information associated with physical component 506, and a backupsensing function 502B for determining sensing information associatedwith physical component 508. Smart sensor device 504 can include aprimary sensing function 504A for determining sensing informationassociated with physical component 508, and a backup sensing function504B for determining sensing information associated with physicalcomponent 506.

In an embodiment, primary sensing function 502A can be different thanbackup sensing function 504B, and/or primary sensing function 504A canbe different than backup sensing function 502B. For example, primarysensing function 502A can be customized to account for vibrationsensing, as well as other characteristics of smart sensor device 502,while backup sensing function 404B can be customized to account foracoustic sensing, as well as other characteristics of smart sensordevice 504.

Smart sensor device 502 can generate sensed information related tophysical component 506 using primary sensing function 502A and/orrelated to the health state of smart sensor device 502, and smart sensordevice 504 can generate sensed information related to physical component508 using primary sensing function 504A and/or related to the healthstate of smart sensor device 504. Smart sensor device 502 can alsomonitor communications from smart sensor device 504 to determine ifsmart sensor device 504 can reliably provide sensed information, andsmart sensor device 504 can also monitor communications from smartsensor device 502 to determine if smart sensor device 402 can reliablyprovide sensed information.

If smart sensor device 502 determines that smart sensor device 504 is nolonger communicating or that smart sensor device 504 has communicatedsensed information indicating that smart sensor device 504 is not ableto operate reliably, then smart sensor device 502 enable backup sensingfunction 502B to generate sensed information related to physicalcomponent 508 in addition to the already enabled primary sensingfunction 502A generating sensed information related to physicalcomponent 506 and communicate the respective sensed information, forexample to server device 118.

If smart sensor device 504 determines that smart sensor device 502 is nolonger communicating or that smart sensor device 502 has communicatedsensed information indicating that smart sensor device 502 is not ableto operate reliably, then smart sensor device 504 enable backup sensingfunction 504B to generate sensed information related to physicalcomponent 506 in addition to the already enabled primary sensingfunction 504A generating sensed information related to physicalcomponent 508 and communicate the respective sensed information, forexample to server device 118.

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of an example, non-limiting system600 of network smart sensor devices monitoring components of anaircraft. System 600 can comprise one or more networks 114 thatcommunicatively couple one or more server devices 118 and smart sensordevices 602, 604, and 610. It is to be appreciated that respective smartsensor devices 602, 604, and 610 can be a smart sensor device 102 or asmart sensor device 116. Smart sensor device 502 can be a primary sensorfor physical component 606 and a backup sensor for physical components608 and 612. Accordingly, smart sensor device 602 can include a primarysensing function 602A for determining sensing information associatedwith physical component 606, backup sensing function 602B fordetermining sensing information associated with physical component 608,and backup sensing function 602C for determining sensing informationassociated with physical component 612. Smart sensor device 604 caninclude a primary sensing function 604A for determining sensinginformation associated with physical component 608, backup sensingfunction 604B for determining sensing information associated withphysical component 606. and a backup sensing function 604C fordetermining sensing information associated with physical component 612.Smart sensor device 610 can include a primary sensing function 610A fordetermining sensing information associated with physical component 612,backup sensing function 610B for determining sensing informationassociated with physical component 606. and a backup sensing function610C for determining sensing information associated with physicalcomponent 608.

Smart sensor device 602 can generate sensed information related tophysical component 606 using primary sensing function 602A and/orrelated to the health state of smart sensor device 602. Smart sensordevice 604 can generate sensed information related to physical component608 using primary sensing function 604A and/or related to the healthstate of smart sensor device 604. Smart sensor device 610 can generatesensed information related to physical component 612 using primarysensing function 610A and/or related to the health state of smart sensordevice 610. Smart sensor device 602 can also monitor communications fromsmart sensor device 604 to determine if smart sensor device 604 canreliably provide sensed information, and can also monitor communicationsfrom smart sensor device 610 to determine if smart sensor device 610 canreliably provide sensed information. Smart sensor device 604 can alsomonitor communications from smart sensor device 602 to determine ifsmart sensor device 602 can reliably provide sensed information, and canalso monitor communications from smart sensor device 610 to determine ifsmart sensor device 610 can reliably provide sensed information. Smartsensor device 610 can also monitor communications from smart sensordevice 602 to determine if smart sensor device 602 can reliably providesensed information, and can also monitor communications from smartsensor device 604 to determine if smart sensor device 604 can reliablyprovide sensed information

If smart sensor device 602 determines that smart sensor device 604 is nolonger communicating or that smart sensor device 604 has communicatedsensed information indicating that smart sensor device 604 is not ableto operate reliably, then smart sensor device 602 enable backup sensingfunction 602B to generate sensed information related to physicalcomponent 608 in addition to the already enabled primary sensingfunction 602A (and optionally backup sensing function 602C if smartsensor device 610 is not operating properly) generating sensedinformation related to physical component 606 (and optionally physicalcomponent 612 if smart sensor device 610 is not operating properly) andcommunicate the respective sensed information, for example to serverdevice 118. Furthermore, if smart sensor device 602 determines thatsmart sensor device 610 is no longer communicating or that smart sensordevice 610 has communicated sensed information indicating that smartsensor device 610 is not able to operate reliably, then smart sensordevice 602 enable backup sensing function 602C to generate sensedinformation related to physical component 612 in addition to the alreadyenabled primary sensing function 602A (and optionally backup sensingfunction 602B if smart sensor device 604 is not operating properly)generating sensed information related to physical component 606 (andoptionally physical component 608 if smart sensor device 604 is notoperating properly) and communicate the respective sensed information,for example to server device 118

If smart sensor device 604 determines that smart sensor device 602 is nolonger communicating or that smart sensor device 602 has communicatedsensed information indicating that smart sensor device 602 is not ableto operate reliably, then smart sensor device 604 enable backup sensingfunction 604B to generate sensed information related to physicalcomponent 606 in addition to the already enabled primary sensingfunction 604A (and optionally backup sensing function 604C if smartsensor device 610 is not operating properly) generating sensedinformation related to physical component 608 (and optionally physicalcomponent 612 if smart sensor device 610 is not operating properly) andcommunicate the respective sensed information, for example to serverdevice 118. Furthermore, if smart sensor device 604 determines thatsmart sensor device 610 is no longer communicating or that smart sensordevice 610 has communicated sensed information indicating that smartsensor device 610 is not able to operate reliably, then smart sensordevice 604 enable backup sensing function 604C to generate sensedinformation related to physical component 612 in addition to the alreadyenabled primary sensing function 604A (and optionally backup sensingfunction 604B if smart sensor device 602 is not operating properly)generating sensed information related to physical component 608 (andoptionally physical component 606 if smart sensor device 602 is notoperating properly) and communicate the respective sensed information,for example to server device 118

If smart sensor device 610 determines that smart sensor device 602 is nolonger communicating or that smart sensor device 602 has communicatedsensed information indicating that smart sensor device 602 is not ableto operate reliably, then smart sensor device 610 enable backup sensingfunction 610B to generate sensed information related to physicalcomponent 606 in addition to the already enabled primary sensingfunction 610A (and optionally backup sensing function 610C if smartsensor device 604 is not operating properly) generating sensedinformation related to physical component 612 (and optionally physicalcomponent 608 if smart sensor device 604 is not operating properly) andcommunicate the respective sensed information, for example to serverdevice 118. Furthermore, if smart sensor device 610 determines thatsmart sensor device 608 is no longer communicating or that smart sensordevice 608 has communicated sensed information indicating that smartsensor device 608 is not able to operate reliably, then smart sensordevice 610 enable backup sensing function 610C to generate sensedinformation related to physical component 608 in addition to the alreadyenabled primary sensing function 610A (and optionally backup sensingfunction 610B if smart sensor device 602 is not operating properly)generating sensed information related to physical component 612 (andoptionally physical component 606 if smart sensor device 602 is notoperating properly) and communicate the respective sensed information,for example to server device 118

While FIGS. 1 and 2 depict separate components in smart sensor device102, it is to be appreciated that two or more components can beimplemented in a common component. Further, it is to be appreciated thatthe design of the smart sensor device 102 or smart sensor device 116 caninclude other component selections and/or component placements tofacilitate performing primary and backup sensing functions. Moreover,the aforementioned systems and/or devices have been described withrespect to interaction between several components. It should beappreciated that such systems and components can include thosecomponents or sub-components specified therein, some of the specifiedcomponents or sub-components, and/or additional components.Sub-components could also be implemented as components communicativelycoupled to other components rather than included within parentcomponents. Further yet, one or more components and/or sub-componentscan be combined into a single component providing aggregatefunctionality. The components can also interact with one or more othercomponents not specifically described herein for the sake of brevity,but known by those of skill in the art.

Further, some of the processes performed may be performed by specializedcomputers for carrying out defined tasks related to primary and backupsensing functions of smart sensor devices 102 and/or smart sensordevices 116. The subject computer processing systems, methodsapparatuses and/or computer program products can be employed to solvenew problems that arise through advancements in technology, computernetworks, the Internet and the like. The subject computer processingsystems, methods apparatuses and/or computer program products canprovide technical improvements to systems for primary and backup sensingfunctions of smart sensor devices 102 and/or smart sensor devices 116 byimproving processing efficiency among processing components in thesesystems, reducing delay in processing performed by the processingcomponents, and improving the accuracy in which the processing systemsperform primary and backup sensing functions of smart sensor devices 102and/or smart sensor devices 116.

The embodiments of devices described herein can employ artificialintelligence (AI) to facilitate automating one or more featuresdescribed herein. The components can employ various AI-based schemes forcarrying out various embodiments/examples disclosed herein. In order toprovide for or aid in the numerous determinations (e.g., determine,ascertain, infer, calculate, predict, prognose, estimate, derive,forecast, detect) described herein, components described herein canexamine the entirety or a subset of the data to which it is grantedaccess and can provide for reasoning about or determine states of thesystem, environment, etc. from a set of observations as captured viaevents and/or data. Determinations can be employed to identify aspecific context or action, and/or can generate a probabilitydistribution over states, for example. The determinations can beprobabilistic—that is, the computation of a probability distributionover states of interest based on a consideration of data and events.Determinations can also refer to techniques employed for composinghigher-level events from a set of events and/or data.

Such determinations can result in the construction of new events oractions from a set of observed events and/or stored event data, whetheror not the events are correlated in close temporal proximity, andwhether the events and data come from one or several event and datasources. Components disclosed herein can employ various classification(explicitly trained (e.g., via training data) as well as implicitlytrained (e.g., via observing behavior, preferences, historicalinformation, receiving extrinsic information, etc.)) schemes and/orsystems (e.g., support vector machines, neural networks, expert systems,Bayesian belief networks, fuzzy logic, data fusion engines, etc.) inconnection with performing automatic and/or determined action inconnection with the claimed subject matter. Thus, classification schemesand/or systems can be used to automatically learn and perform a numberof functions, actions, and/or determination.

A classifier can map an input attribute vector, z=(z1, z2, z3, z4, zn),to a confidence that the input belongs to a class, as byf(z)=confidence(class). Such classification can employ a probabilisticand/or statistical-based analysis (e.g., factoring into the analysisutilities and costs) to determinate an action to be automaticallyperformed. A support vector machine (SVM) is an example of a classifierthat can be employed. The SVM operates by finding a hyper-surface in thespace of possible inputs, where the hyper-surface attempts to split thetriggering criteria from the non-triggering events. Intuitively, thismakes the classification correct for testing data that is near, but notidentical to training data. Other directed and undirected modelclassification approaches include, e.g., naïve Bayes, Bayesian networks,decision trees, neural networks, fuzzy logic models, and probabilisticclassification models providing different patterns of independence canbe employed. Classification as used herein also is inclusive ofstatistical regression that is utilized to develop models of priority.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate methodologies in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the subject application. While, for purposes ofsimplicity of explanation, the methodologies shown herein is shown anddescribed as a series of acts, it is to be understood and appreciatedthat the subject innovation is not limited by the order of acts, as someacts may, in accordance therewith, occur in a different order and/orconcurrently with other acts from that shown and described herein. Forexample, those skilled in the art will understand and appreciate that amethodology could alternatively be represented as a series ofinterrelated states or events, such as in a state diagram. Moreover, notall illustrated acts may be required to implement a methodology inaccordance with the innovation. Furthermore, interaction diagram(s) mayrepresent methodologies, or methods, in accordance with the subjectdisclosure when disparate entities enact disparate portions of themethodologies. Further yet, two or more of the disclosed example methodscan be implemented in combination with each other, to accomplish one ormore features or advantages described herein.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow diagram of an example, non-limitingcomputer-implemented method 700 that facilitates primary and backupsensing functions of smart sensor devices of an aircraft in accordancewith one or more embodiments described herein. Repetitive description oflike elements employed in other embodiments described herein is omittedfor sake of brevity.

At 702, method 700 can comprise generating, by a first smart sensordevice coupled to a processor, first sensed information associated witha first physical component using a primary sensing function (e.g., via asensed data acquisition component 204, a state detection component 206,a monitoring component 104, a smart sensor device 102, and/or a smartsensor device 116). At 704, method 700 can comprise monitoring, by thefirst smart sensor device, communication from a second smart sensordevice performing sensing associated with a second physical component(e.g., via a communication component 202, a state detection component206, a monitoring component 104, a smart sensor device 102, and/or asmart sensor device 116). At 706, method 700 can comprise in response todetermining, by the first smart sensor device, that the second smartsensor device is not operating properly based on the communication:enabling a backup sensing function in conjunction with the primarysensing function, generating the first sensed information associatedwith the first physical component using the primary function, andgenerating second sensed information associated with the second physicalcomponent using the backup function (e.g., via a sensed data acquisitioncomponent 204, a state detection component 206, a monitoring component104, a smart sensor device 102, and/or a smart sensor device 116)

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow diagram of an example, non-limitingcomputer-implemented method 800 that facilitates primary and backupsensing functions of smart sensor devices of an aircraft in accordancewith one or more embodiments described herein. Repetitive description oflike elements employed in other embodiments described herein is omittedfor sake of brevity.

At 802, method 800 can comprise executing, by a first smart sensordevice coupled to a processor, a primary sensing function associatedwith a first physical component (e.g., via a sensed data acquisitioncomponent 204, a communication component 202, a state detectioncomponent 206, a monitoring component 104, a smart sensor device 102,and/or a smart sensor device 116). At 804, method 800 can comprisetransmitting, by the first smart sensor device, a first heartbeat signalto a second smart sensor device associated with a second physicalcomponent (e.g., via a sensed data acquisition component 204, acommunication component 202, a state detection component 206, amonitoring component 104, a smart sensor device 102, and/or a smartsensor device 116). At 806, method 800 can comprise monitoring, by thefirst smart sensor device, a second heartbeat signal sent from thesecond smart sensor device to the first smart sensor device (e.g., via asensed data acquisition component 204, a communication component 202, astate detection component 206, a monitoring component 104, a smartsensor device 102, and/or a smart sensor device 116). At 808, method 800can comprise in response to determining, by the first smart sensordevice, that the second smart sensor device has not sent the secondheartbeat signal for a threshold amount of time: executing a backupsensing function associated with the second physical component inconjunction with the primary sensing function (e.g., via a sensed dataacquisition component 204, a communication component 202, a statedetection component 206, a monitoring component 104, a smart sensordevice 102, and/or a smart sensor device 116). At 810, method 800 cancomprise in response to transmitting, by the first smart sensor, atleast one of first sensed information generated based on the primarysensing function or second sensed information generated based on thebackup sensing function to a server device (e.g., via a sensed dataacquisition component 204, a communication component 202, a statedetection component 206, a monitoring component 104, a smart sensordevice 102, and/or a smart sensor device 116).

For simplicity of explanation, the computer-implemented methodologiesare depicted and described as a series of acts. It is to be understoodand appreciated that the subject innovation is not limited by the actsillustrated and/or by the order of acts, for example acts can occur invarious orders and/or concurrently, and with other acts not presentedand described herein. Furthermore, not all illustrated acts can berequired to implement the computer-implemented methodologies inaccordance with the disclosed subject matter. In addition, those skilledin the art will understand and appreciate that the computer-implementedmethodologies could alternatively be represented as a series ofinterrelated states via a state diagram or events. Additionally, itshould be further appreciated that the computer-implementedmethodologies disclosed hereinafter and throughout this specificationare capable of being stored on an article of manufacture to facilitatetransporting and transferring such computer-implemented methodologies tocomputers. The term article of manufacture, as used herein, is intendedto encompass a computer program accessible from any computer-readabledevice or storage media.

In order to provide a context for the various aspects of the disclosedsubject matter, FIG. 9 as well as the following discussion are intendedto provide a general description of a suitable environment in which thevarious aspects of the disclosed subject matter can be implemented. FIG.9 illustrates a block diagram of an example, non-limiting operatingenvironment in which one or more embodiments described herein can befacilitated. Repetitive description of like elements employed in otherembodiments described herein is omitted for sake of brevity. Withreference to FIG. 9, a suitable operating environment 900 forimplementing various aspects of this disclosure can also include acomputer 912. The computer 912 can also include a processing unit 914, asystem memory 916, and a system bus 918. The system bus 918 couplessystem components including, but not limited to, the system memory 916to the processing unit 914. The processing unit 914 can be any ofvarious available processors. Dual microprocessors and othermultiprocessor architectures also can be employed as the processing unit914. The system bus 918 can be any of several types of bus structure(s)including the memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus orexternal bus, and/or a local bus using any variety of available busarchitectures including, but not limited to, Industrial StandardArchitecture (ISA), Micro-Channel Architecture (MSA), Extended ISA(EISA), Intelligent Drive Electronics (IDE), VESA Local Bus (VLB),Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI), Card Bus, Universal Serial Bus(USB), Advanced Graphics Port (AGP), Firewire (IEEE 1294), and SmallComputer Systems Interface (SCSI). The system memory 916 can alsoinclude volatile memory 920 and nonvolatile memory 922. The basicinput/output system (BIOS), containing the basic routines to transferinformation between elements within the computer 912, such as duringstart-up, is stored in nonvolatile memory 922. By way of illustration,and not limitation, nonvolatile memory 922 can include read only memory(ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM),electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory, ornonvolatile random access memory (RAM) (e.g., ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM).Volatile memory 920 can also include random access memory (RAM), whichacts as external cache memory. By way of illustration and notlimitation, RAM is available in many forms such as static RAM (SRAM),dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM(DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), directRambus RAM (DRRAM), direct Rambus dynamic RAM (DRDRAM), and Rambusdynamic RAM.

Computer 912 can also include removable/non-removable,volatile/non-volatile computer storage media. FIG. 9 illustrates, forexample, a disk storage 924. Disk storage 924 can also include, but isnot limited to, devices like a magnetic disk drive, floppy disk drive,tape drive, Jaz drive, Zip drive, LS-100 drive, flash memory card, ormemory stick. The disk storage 924 also can include storage mediaseparately or in combination with other storage media including, but notlimited to, an optical disk drive such as a compact disk ROM device(CD-ROM), CD recordable drive (CD-R Drive), CD rewritable drive (CD-RWDrive) or a digital versatile disk ROM drive (DVD-ROM). To facilitateconnection of the disk storage 924 to the system bus 918, a removable ornon-removable interface is typically used, such as interface 926. FIG. 9also depicts software that acts as an intermediary between users and thebasic computer resources described in the suitable operating environment901. Such software can also include, for example, an operating system928. Operating system 928, which can be stored on disk storage 924, actsto control and allocate resources of the computer 912. Systemapplications 930 take advantage of the management of resources byoperating system 928 through program modules 932 and program data 934,e.g., stored either in system memory 916 or on disk storage 924. It isto be appreciated that this disclosure can be implemented with variousoperating systems or combinations of operating systems. A user enterscommands or information into the computer 912 through input device(s)936. Input devices 936 include, but are not limited to, a pointingdevice such as a mouse, trackball, stylus, touch pad, keyboard,microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, TV tuner card,digital camera, digital video camera, web camera, and the like. Theseand other input devices connect to the processing unit 914 through thesystem bus 918 via interface port(s) 938. Interface port(s) 938 include,for example, a serial port, a parallel port, a game port, and auniversal serial bus (USB). Output device(s) 940 use some of the sametype of ports as input device(s) 936. Thus, for example, a USB port canbe used to provide input to computer 912, and to output information fromcomputer 912 to an output device 940. Output adapter 942 is provided toillustrate that there are some output devices 940 like monitors,speakers, and printers, among other output devices 940, which requirespecial adapters. The output adapters 942 include, by way ofillustration and not limitation, video and sound cards that provide ameans of connection between the output device 940 and the system bus918. It should be noted that other devices and/or systems of devicesprovide both input and output capabilities such as remote computer(s)944.

Computer 912 can operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections to one or more remote computers, such as remote computer(s)944. The remote computer(s) 944 can be a computer, a server, a router, anetwork PC, a workstation, a microprocessor based appliance, a peerdevice or other common network node and the like, and typically can alsoinclude many or all of the elements described relative to computer 912.For purposes of brevity, only a memory storage device 946 is illustratedwith remote computer(s) 944. Remote computer(s) 944 is logicallyconnected to computer 912 through a network interface 948 and thenphysically connected via communication connection 950. Network interface948 encompasses wire and/or wireless communication networks such aslocal-area networks (LAN), wide-area networks (WAN), cellular networks,etc. LAN technologies include Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI),Copper Distributed Data Interface (CDDI), Ethernet, Token Ring and thelike. WAN technologies include, but are not limited to, point-to-pointlinks, circuit switching networks like Integrated Services DigitalNetworks (ISDN) and variations thereon, packet switching networks, andDigital Subscriber Lines (DSL). Communication connection(s) 950 refersto the hardware/software employed to connect the network interface 948to the system bus 918. While communication connection 950 is shown forillustrative clarity inside computer 912, it can also be external tocomputer 912. The hardware/software for connection to the networkinterface 948 can also include, for exemplary purposes only, internaland external technologies such as, modems including regular telephonegrade modems, cable modems and DSL modems, ISDN adapters, and Ethernetcards.

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of a sample computing environment1000 with which the disclosed subject matter can interact. The samplecomputing environment 1000 includes one or more client(s) 1002. Theclient(s) 1002 can be hardware and/or software (e.g., threads,processes, computing devices). The sample computing environment 1000also includes one or more server(s) 1004. The server(s) 1004 can also behardware and/or software (e.g., threads, processes, computing devices).The servers 1004 can house threads to perform transformations byemploying one or more embodiments as described herein, for example. Onepossible communication between a client 1002 and servers 1004 can be inthe form of a data packet adapted to be transmitted between two or morecomputer processes. The sample computing environment 1000 includes acommunication framework 1006 that can be employed to facilitatecommunications between the client(s) 1002 and the server(s) 1004. Theclient(s) 1002 are operably connected to one or more client datastore(s) 1008 that can be employed to store information local to theclient(s) 1002. Similarly, the server(s) 1004 are operably connected toone or more server data store(s) 1010 that can be employed to storeinformation local to the servers 1004.

Embodiments of the present invention may be a system, a method, anapparatus and/or a computer program product at any possible technicaldetail level of integration. The computer program product can include acomputer readable storage medium (or media) having computer readableprogram instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry outaspects of the present invention. The computer readable storage mediumcan be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions for useby an instruction execution device. The computer readable storage mediumcan be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, anelectromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or anysuitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of morespecific examples of the computer readable storage medium can alsoinclude the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static randomaccess memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM),a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, amechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or raised structures ina groove having instructions recorded thereon, and any suitablecombination of the foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, asused herein, is not to be construed as being transitory signals per se,such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves,electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or othertransmission media (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber-opticcable), or electrical signals transmitted through a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network can comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device. Computer readable programinstructions for carrying out operations of various aspects of thepresent invention can be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, oreither source code or object code written in any combination of one ormore programming languages, including an object oriented programminglanguage such as Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and procedural programminglanguages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programminglanguages. The computer readable program instructions can executeentirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as astand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partlyon a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. Inthe latter scenario, the remote computer can be connected to the user'scomputer through any type of network, including a local area network(LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection can be made to anexternal computer (for example, through the Internet using an InternetService Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including,for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gatearrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) can execute thecomputer readable program instructions by utilizing state information ofthe computer readable program instructions to customize the electroniccircuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions. These computer readable programinstructions can be provided to a processor of a general purposecomputer, special purpose computer, or other programmable dataprocessing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions,which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmabledata processing apparatus, create means for implementing thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks. These computer readable program instructions can also be storedin a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, aprogrammable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to functionin a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage mediumhaving instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufactureincluding instructions which implement aspects of the function/actspecified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. Thecomputer readable program instructions can also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational acts to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams can represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the blocks can occur out of theorder noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in successioncan, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks cansometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

While the subject matter has been described above in the general contextof computer-executable instructions of a computer program product thatruns on a computer and/or computers, those skilled in the art willrecognize that this disclosure also can or can be implemented incombination with other program modules. Generally, program modulesinclude routines, programs, components, data structures, etc. thatperform particular tasks and/or implement particular abstract datatypes. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that theinventive computer-implemented methods can be practiced with othercomputer system configurations, including single-processor ormultiprocessor computer systems, mini-computing devices, mainframecomputers, as well as computers, hand-held computing devices (e.g., PDA,phone), microprocessor-based or programmable consumer or industrialelectronics, and the like. The illustrated aspects can also be practicedin distributed computing environments where tasks are performed byremote processing devices that are linked through a communicationsnetwork. However, some, if not all aspects of this disclosure can bepracticed on stand-alone computers. In a distributed computingenvironment, program modules can be located in both local and remotememory storage devices.

As used in this application, the terms “component,” “system,”“platform,” “interface,” and the like, can refer to and/or can include acomputer-related entity or an entity related to an operational machinewith one or more specific functionalities. The entities disclosed hereincan be either hardware, a combination of hardware and software,software, or software in execution. For example, a component can be, butis not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor,an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or acomputer. By way of illustration, both an application running on aserver and the server can be a component. One or more components canreside within a process and/or thread of execution and a component canbe localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or morecomputers. In another example, respective components can execute fromvarious computer readable media having various data structures storedthereon. The components can communicate via local and/or remoteprocesses such as in accordance with a signal having one or more datapackets (e.g., data from one component interacting with anothercomponent in a local system, distributed system, and/or across a networksuch as the Internet with other systems via the signal). As anotherexample, a component can be an apparatus with specific functionalityprovided by mechanical parts operated by electric or electroniccircuitry, which is operated by a software or firmware applicationexecuted by a processor. In such a case, the processor can be internalor external to the apparatus and can execute at least a part of thesoftware or firmware application. As yet another example, a componentcan be an apparatus that provides specific functionality throughelectronic components without mechanical parts, wherein the electroniccomponents can include a processor or other means to execute software orfirmware that confers at least in part the functionality of theelectronic components. In an aspect, a component can emulate anelectronic component via a virtual machine, e.g., within a cloudcomputing system.

In addition, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” ratherthan an exclusive “or.” That is, unless specified otherwise, or clearfrom context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the naturalinclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or Xemploys both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any ofthe foregoing instances. Moreover, articles “a” and “an” as used in thesubject specification and annexed drawings should generally be construedto mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from contextto be directed to a singular form. As used herein, the terms “example”and/or “exemplary” are utilized to mean serving as an example, instance,or illustration. For the avoidance of doubt, the subject matterdisclosed herein is not limited by such examples. In addition, anyaspect or design described herein as an “example” and/or “exemplary” isnot necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over otheraspects or designs, nor is it meant to preclude equivalent exemplarystructures and techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Furthermore, the term “set” as employed herein excludes the empty set;e.g., the set with no elements therein, unless expressly indicatedotherwise. Thus, a “set” in the subject disclosure includes one or moreelements or entities. As an illustration, a set of devices includes oneor more devices; a set of data resources includes one or more dataresources, unless expressly indicated otherwise; etc. Likewise, the term“group” as utilized herein refers to a collection of one or moreentities; e.g., a group of nodes refers to one or more nodes.

As it is employed in the subject specification, the term “processor” canrefer to substantially any computing processing unit or devicecomprising, but not limited to, single-core processors;single-processors with software multithread execution capability;multi-core processors; multi-core processors with software multithreadexecution capability; multi-core processors with hardware multithreadtechnology; parallel platforms; and parallel platforms with distributedshared memory. Additionally, a processor can refer to an integratedcircuit, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digitalsignal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), aprogrammable logic controller (PLC), a complex programmable logic device(CPLD), a discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardwarecomponents, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functionsdescribed herein. Further, processors can exploit nano-scalearchitectures such as, but not limited to, molecular and quantum-dotbased transistors, switches and gates, in order to optimize space usageor enhance performance of user equipment. A processor can also beimplemented as a combination of computing processing units. In thisdisclosure, terms such as “store,” “storage,” “data store,” datastorage,” “database,” and substantially any other information storagecomponent relevant to operation and functionality of a component areutilized to refer to “memory components,” entities embodied in a“memory,” or components comprising a memory. It is to be appreciatedthat memory and/or memory components described herein can be eithervolatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or can include both volatile andnonvolatile memory. By way of illustration, and not limitation,nonvolatile memory can include read only memory (ROM), programmable ROM(PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable ROM(EEPROM), flash memory, or nonvolatile random access memory (RAM) (e.g.,ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM). Volatile memory can include RAM, which canact as external cache memory, for example. By way of illustration andnot limitation, RAM is available in many forms such as synchronous RAM(SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rateSDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM),direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM), direct Rambus dynamic RAM (DRDRAM), andRambus dynamic RAM (RDRAM). Additionally, the disclosed memorycomponents of systems or computer-implemented methods herein areintended to include, without being limited to including, these and anyother suitable types of memory.

What has been described above include mere examples of systems andcomputer-implemented methods. It is, of course, not possible to describeevery conceivable combination of components or computer-implementedmethods for purposes of describing this disclosure, but one of ordinaryskill in the art can recognize that many further combinations andpermutations of this disclosure are possible. Furthermore, to the extentthat the terms “includes,” “has,” “possesses,” and the like are used inthe detailed description, claims, appendices and drawings such terms areintended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as“comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in aclaim. The descriptions of the various embodiments have been presentedfor purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variationswill be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departingfrom the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminologyused herein was chosen to best explain the principles of theembodiments, the practical application or technical improvement overtechnologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinaryskill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,including the preferred embodiments, and also to enable any personskilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and usingany devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. Thepatentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and mayinclude other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Suchother examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if theyhave structural elements that do not differ from the literal language ofthe claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements withinsubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

What we claim is:
 1. A first smart sensor device, comprising: a sensingelement; a processor; and a memory communicatively coupled to theprocessor, the memory having stored therein computer-executableinstructions, wherein the computer-executable instructions comprise:generating first sensed information associated with a first aircraftphysical hardware component based on execution of a primary sensingfunction and one or more signals from the sensing element; monitoringcommunication from a second smart sensor device that performs sensingassociated with a second aircraft physical hardware component, whereinthe first aircraft physical hardware component and the second aircraftphysical hardware component are different hardware components; and basedon a first determination that the second smart sensor device is notoperating properly based on the communication from the second smartsensor device: enabling a backup sensing function at the first smartsensor device, wherein the backup sensing function is a same sensingfunction performed by the second smart sensor device, continuing togenerate the first sensed information associated with the first aircraftphysical hardware component using the primary sensing function and theone or more signals from the sensing element, and generating secondsensed information associated with the second aircraft physical hardwarecomponent using the backup sensing function and one or more othersignals from the sensing element, wherein the generating of the firstsensed information associated with the first aircraft physical hardwarecomponent and the generating of the second sensed information associatedwith the second aircraft physical hardware component are performedconcurrently.
 2. The first smart sensor device of claim 1, wherein thecomputer-executable instructions further comprise concurrentlytransmitting the first sensed information and the second sensed to aserver device.
 3. The first smart sensor device of claim 1, wherein thecomputer-executable instructions further comprise: receiving a heartbeatsignal from the second smart sensor device; and performing the firstdetermination that the second smart sensor device is not operatingproperly based on a second determination that the heartbeat signal hasnot been received for a threshold amount of time.
 4. The first smartsensor device of claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructionsfurther comprise determining that the second smart sensor device is notoperating properly based on a health status message received from thesecond smart sensor device.
 5. The first smart sensor device of claim 1,wherein the backup sensing function is different than the primarysensing function.
 6. The first smart sensor device of claim 5, whereinthe computer-executable instructions further comprise customizing theprimary sensing function based upon a distance between the first smartsensor device and the first aircraft physical hardware component.
 7. Thefirst smart sensor device of claim 5, wherein the computer-executableinstructions further comprise customizing the backup sensing functionbased upon a distance between the first smart sensor device and thesecond aircraft physical hardware component.
 8. A method, comprising:generating, by a first smart sensor device, first sensed informationassociated with a first aircraft hardware component based on executionof a primary sensing function; monitoring, by the first smart sensordevice, status messages received from a second smart sensor device thatis configured to perform sensing associated with a second aircrafthardware component, where the first aircraft hardware component and thesecond aircraft hardware component are different hardware components,and wherein the status messages comprise respective indications of ahealth state of the second smart sensor device; and based ondetermining, by the first smart sensor device, that the second smartsensor device is not operating properly based on the monitoring:enabling, by the first smart sensor device, a backup sensing function ata same time as, and in addition to, the primary sensing function,wherein the backup sensing function is a same sensing function as thesensing performed by the second smart sensor device, continuing togenerate, by the first smart sensor device, the first sensed informationassociated with the first aircraft hardware component using the primarysensing function, and generating, by the first smart sensor device,second sensed information associated with the second aircraft hardwarecomponent using the backup sensing function, wherein the generating ofthe first sensed information associated with the first aircraft hardwarecomponent and the generating of the second sensed information associatedwith the second aircraft hardware component are performed at a sametime.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising concurrentlytransmitting, by the first smart sensor device, the first sensedinformation and the second sensed information to a server device. 10.The method of claim 8, wherein the monitoring the status messagescomprises: receiving a heartbeat signal from the second smart sensordevice; and determining that the second smart sensor device is notoperating properly based on determining that the heartbeat signal is notbeing received for a threshold amount of time.
 11. The method of claim8, wherein the monitoring the status messages comprises determining thesecond smart sensor device is not operating properly based on a healthstatus message received from the second smart sensor device.
 12. Themethod of claim 8, wherein the backup sensing function is different thanthe primary sensing function.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein theprimary sensing function is customized based upon a direction in whichthe first smart sensor device is facing relative to the first aircrafthardware component.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the backupsensing function is customized based upon a direction in which thesecond smart sensor device is facing relative to the second aircrafthardware component.
 15. The method of claim 8, wherein the primarysensing function is customized based upon a distance between the firstsmart sensor device and the first aircraft hardware component.
 16. Themethod of claim 8, wherein the backup sensing function is customizedbased upon a distance between the second smart sensor device and thesecond aircraft hardware component.
 17. A system, comprising: a firstsmart sensor device that monitors a first aircraft hardware componentusing a first function; and a second smart sensor device that monitors asecond aircraft hardware component using a second function that isdifferent from the first function, wherein the second smart sensordevice is communicatively coupled to the first smart sensor device,wherein the first aircraft hardware component and the second aircrafthardware component are different hardware components, and wherein, basedon a first determination that the second smart sensor device is nolonger monitoring the second aircraft hardware component, the firstsmart sensor device is enabled to monitor the second aircraft hardwarecomponent using a third function, wherein the third function is a samefunction as the second function, and, simultaneously, continues tomonitor the first aircraft hardware component using the first functionwhile monitoring the second aircraft hardware component using the thirdfunction.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first smart sensordevice performs the first determination that the second smart sensordevice is no longer monitoring the second aircraft hardware componentbased on a second determination that a heartbeat signal has not beenreceived from the second smart sensor device for a threshold amount oftime.
 19. The system of claim 17, wherein the first smart sensor devicedetermines that the second smart sensor device is no longer monitoringthe second aircraft hardware component based on a fault message receivedfrom the second smart sensor device.
 20. The system of claim 17, whereinthe second smart sensor device further comprises the first function formonitoring the first aircraft hardware component; and wherein, based ona second determination that the first smart sensor device is no longermonitoring the first aircraft hardware component, the second smartsensor device monitors the first aircraft hardware component using afourth function, wherein the fourth function is a same function as thefirst function, and continues to monitor the second aircraft hardwarecomponent using the second function.